Converse's 10th annual Pride campaign celebrates LGBTQIA+ community's trailblazing spirit

In celebrating its 10th annual Pride campaign, Converse continues its long-standing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community through ongoing social and community-impact partnerships, as well as its annual Proud to Be collection.  

Since launching its first Pride campaign and collection in 2015, Converse has pledged and donated nearly $3 million to LGBTQIA+ organisations such as the It Gets Better Project, a long-term global partner that harnesses the power of the internet to create community and show youth that things do, in fact, get better.

Mirroring localised commitments, Converse is also partnering this year with organisations across the globe that are dedicated to serving the community, including: 

• The Ali Forney Center, a New York City organisation focused on protecting homeless LGBTQIA+ youth and empowering them with the tools needed to be independent
• The Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth (BAGLY), a non-profit organisation committed to creating and advocating for programmes for the LGBTQIA+ youth community
• The Theater Offensive, a non-profit theatre company based in Boston, USA, that produces art by, for and about queer and transgender people of colour
• COC Netherlands, which educates and empowers LGBTQIA+ communities across the globe
• Homotopia, based in Liverpool, England, and IGLYO, based in Belgium, which leverage creativity and storytelling to amplify LGBTQIA+ youth voices
• Minus18, Australia's largest youth-driven non-profit organisation championing LGBTQIA+ young people—letting queer youth know they're supported and seen while educating the wider community about the importance of allyship

In designing this year's Proud to Be collection, Converse LGBTQIA+ employees and allies infused it with a Western-inspired aesthetic that nods to the queer community's trailblazing spirit with a vibrant spectrum of colours that help empower individuals to stand out and live unapologetically.

Converse enlisted photographer Cully Wright, whose work embodies the meaning of creating space, to capture the essence of its 2024 Proud to Be campaign. As a self-described romantic, Wright focuses on representing various queer experiences to provide exposure to the community and demonstrate the expansiveness of humanity and joy. For Converse, Wright focused on capturing the tenderness and peace of authentic love to show the power of standing in one's own truth.  

"When we create a safe space to fully express who we are, we allow others to do the same. That's the goal", says Wright. "As I keep growing, I want to inspire people and evoke emotions. I want to tell stories and give people the space to feel. I think the more diversity showcased in art, entertainment and media, the more opportunities for acceptance".

Wright's role in the campaign reflects Converse's aim to celebrate the community in meaningful ways by showcasing creators who are pushing boundaries in their fields and building a future where everyone can unapologetically be their full selves. For past Pride campaigns, the brand has worked with creative voices from the community across music, fashion and sport, including Big Freedia, Richie Shazam, Alexis Sablone and Munachi Osegbu.

Each of the collection's footwear styles features unique design details, such as a first-of-its-kind Run Star Utility Sandal CX colourway highlighting the transgender flag and a Chuck 70 with a Platinum upper and harness-inspired embellishment. Western embroidery, prismatic Chuck patches and licence plates, and neon-rainbow outsoles are featured throughout the footwear collection.

The Chuck Taylor All Star high, low and platform styles are customisable through the Converse By You experience, which includes personalised laces, flags, stars, hearts, flames, trim and tongue patches.

The Converse Proud to Be collection and Converse By You experience are available now on converse.com.